Legendary Singer Lena Horne Dies at 92

Groundbreaking entertainer Lena Horne, who fought to become one of Hollywood’s first African American leading ladies, has died at the age of 92, reports the New York Times.

According to her son-in-law, Kevin Buckley, Horne died Sunday night at New York-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center in New York.

The actress’ first MGM movie was 1942′s ‘Panama Hattie,’ in which she sang Cole Porter’s ‘Just One of Those Things.’ Other film credits include ‘Cabin in the Sky,’ (1943), ‘Stormy Weather,’ (1943) ‘Thousands Cheer’ (1943), ‘Broadway Rhythm’ (1944), ‘Two Girls and a Sailor’ (1944), ‘Ziegfeld Follies’ (1946), and ‘Words and Music’ (1948). One of her final film acting roles was playing Glinda the Good Witch in 1978′s ‘The Wiz,’ before leaving Hollywood to focus on her singing career.

A woman before her time, Horne battled racism in the Hollywood studio system, but went on to become a legendary jazz singer. She won a Tony Award for her 1981 tour-de-force, ‘Lena Horne: The Lady and Her Music.’